Not Computing I know but this is the nearest we have to a Technology thread


I have noticed that when I do a lot of 'motorway driving' I get about 5 mpg more from petrol bought at an own brand petrol station than I do from petrol bought at a supermarket station. Has anybody else noticed this?

I assume they don't put the additives in so a second question is does supermarket petrol damage your car engine in the long term (valve burn out etc)?

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It can't rain all the time

OH says he has noticed that as well but doesn't know about the last half of your comment.

Google Search "petrol differences":

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22...ences%22&meta=

Suppose you go to the petrol station and fill up the petrol tank. You pay for the petrol then travel on your journey. You do realise that the petrol has therefore added to the weight that has to be propelled forward? If you only have half a tank of petrol you must be getting better value for your money. If you are low on petrol you remember to drive slower before it runs out as who knows if the level of the display remaining is trustworthy?

There are higher-powered petrols for the larger and sportier cars. Whatever your petrol grade is, you are still subject to current weather conditions and traffic flow. Car designers use the Wind Tunnel tests to measure air resistance. Stops and starts and gear changes also affect performance.

The people in the car, have they had a dinner at a motorway restaurant and added to the weight the car has to move? There are differences, variations. Test dummies are standard weights. Tests not only reveal answers but lead to prototypes which improve performance.

Only prolonged tests could evaluate the results and that's why consumers provide statistics beyond the car maker statistics. If the car makers believed that some petrol suppliers were substandard or damaging then they have either put details in the car manuals or have details on their websites eg FAQs or Customer Support.

As drivers fill up their petrol tanks at whatever petrol station offers good value there has been a website to report local prices so folks can save money. Fuel prices may be linked to supermarkets as incentives to shop and save even money. It's highly unlikely that they would sell inferior fuel thus losing repeat sales as that's how they make their money and stay in business.

Google results:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=UK+...ve+money&meta=

While there are additives for improving car engine performance, the best safety device is the driver and he or she can learn from car forums. Try Google Search using the car manufacter's name, your car model number and add petrol. Maybe there are comments in forums which would encourage you or alert you to known concerns or weaknesses in car designs.

The secondhand car dealer might know some insights into your queries. Car depreciation rates vary and the least depreciation rates indicate the best value in standards of quality and reliability. Even so, check car reviews for pros and cons.

Google Search "car depreciation table":

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22ca...table%22&meta=

Are you saying that because somebody has posted something on a forum it must be true?

O.K the moon is made of cheese!

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It can't rain all the time

The prices round here have dropped to 86.9 with one garage down to 85.9. I saw that after I'd filled up of course.

They've now come down by 9 pence per litre which equates to over 40 pence per gallon.

Still expensive. I hope that new find in the Gulf of Mexico will alleviate things, after the problem in Alaska.

I think that the goverment should reduce their taxation on fuel bearing in mind that they get a fixed percentage for no effort.

Can you seriously imagine Gordon Brown doing that?
There'd be more chance of Blair voting Tory.

Hang on Gordons been upset because world events have stopped his last 2 or 3 planned rises so you know what to expect first chance he gets

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It can't rain all the time

I was convinced he already does